Haddo House has had some sad memories for us, so it's somewhere we hadn't been for about 2 years. However recently I decided it was time to move past that, so we visited with some friends. We really loved the grounds, they're so big, so much to see and explore! It felt almost surreal in some parts, crunching through the leaves. At one point we walked into a shaded part of the forest and a gust of wind blew. It quite literally began raining leaves then, hundreds of them, all around us as far as we could see! It made us all laugh, and we waited for a repeat, but no such luck.
On our visit with friends
Cora and Calvin sitting on the side of the chapel wall
We had to take a walk to the Pheasantry as well, since Cora and Calvin knew they would be camping there soon with Scouts (Beavers and Cubs). They were so excited to see where they would be, they were planning how it would all go in their heads I'm sure!
A massive tree in the garden with my friend, Cora, and one of her children to show scale!
An old piece of machinery they found in the forest
The house itself was beautiful too, the kids only got slightly bored - but were generally very interested. It was quite poignant really, we were the only ones on the tour until an older couple ran in to Queen Victoria's bedroom to join us. He began to tell us how he had been born there when it was made into a maternity hospital - the tour guide had literally just finished telling the children and I about that. When the tour guide told him he was standing in the very room he had been born in, he was quite overcome! It was very cool for the kids to see 'history in action' - having just heard about the Haddo Babies they then met one in real life! Amazing.
Feeding the very tame Haddo ducks
We're looking forward to going back soon. Our National Trust membership is certainly paying off.
Sorting out Calvin and Maia's room today I had a brainwave. Thought I'd share for those of you with bunk beds! I took an old crib sheet and tied it to the slats, voila, instant teddy hammock! Maia loves it, and it's somewhere easy and practical to keep all her soft toys.
I had many more exciting things to post, only I can't, because the pictures are on Aaron's computer and not my phone anymore.
So, until I remember to post those, here is what we did today. First, Maia had her nursery sports day. She loved it! Then we went to the park for a picnic. We played football and all went on the zip swing. The sun shone for the first time in ages, I even got sunburnt! This is what summer should be like. :-)
I've been neglecting my blog again. I really want to have this to look back on when the children are older, so I must remember to write on here more!
Now further to my previous post, our excitement today has been a royal visit. I heard on the grapevine yesterday that Princess Anne was coming to see Boddam light house, on an unofficial visit. The kids were so excited at the thought of meeting a princess, I thought I better prepare them though - I correctly assumed that they were expecting a stunningly beautiful princess of Disney proportions who would sweep majestically out of her beautiful carriage in an exquisite ballgown! In reality Princess Anne looked like a 'normal person', which was really rather comforting. :) Cora and Calvin were still excited to see her though. Unfortunately Calvin wasn't feeling too good so he decided to stay with Nanny for the day instead. Maia and Cora were excited about seeing a "real live Princess" and told me so all the way to Boddam!
(Am I just biased, or is my girl the prettiest thing ever?)
When we arrived Princess Anne was at the top of the light house. I didn't realise it was her at first because we had thought she was arriving a bit later. We waited about 15 minutes for her to come down, then finally she came out! Cora and Maia waved at her. Princess Anne spoke to the crowd for a minute or so, asking if all of Boddam was there and commenting on the Walk-o-dile the nursery children had on. Then she was off in her minibus to less foggy shores I assume!
We're also off to another amazing castle this weekend for the GE Family BBQ, Crathes Castle! The kids don't know about it and I can't wait to see their faces. I love the enjoyment they get from every day life, I think that would break my heart most if they had to go to school - not seeing those moments of learning and curiosity and when things fall into place for them. It's what makes home schooling so rewarding for me.
We recently joined the National Trust for Scotland. It's a bargain at only £5.50 a month! We get free parking and entry to all their properties. The kids of course have been wanting to take full advantage of this. So on any nice days lately we've been off to castles to explore and learn.
First we went to Fyvie castle. We went there on a day that Daddy was off work, though sadly Daddy wasn't feeling too good! We took a picnic in our handy dandy American style cooler, and as we arrived it started pouring with rain. We hid out in the car for about ten minutes and it passed, then the sun came out thankfully so we resumed picnicking.
The kids in front of Fyvie Castle.
Sadly this is the only real picture I have from Fyvie, because you're not allowed to photograph inside it. We had our own personal tour guide though and the kids loved seeing all the different rooms, all the guns and armour, and hearing stories (particularly about the Lairds racing their horses up the massive stone spiral staircase!). Cora's favourite was the bedrooms and the accompanying tales of princesses sleeping in the four poster beds.
When we got home that evening, Maia promptly went and built Fyvie castle out of duplo blocks. She keeps asking to go to more castles, she loved it!
That Saturday Cora was off to Edinburgh Zoo with Brownies, so we had planned a family day out. Unfortunately Aaron wasn't well enough to come with us, so it was just Calvin, Maia and I. We went to the cinema to see the £1 showing of Cars 2 which we all loved, followed by shopping at Costco. Before we left I looked up on my phone where the nearest NTS property was, as Costco is about an hour from our house so I thought maybe there would be somewhere nearby to go that we normally wouldn't drive to. Success! I found that we were only 15 minutes from Castle Fraser, where I had been once or twice before but never inside. It was a gorgeous sunny day so off we went.
Calvin and Maia at the side of Castle Fraser.
The view of the Castle you see when you walk down from the car park.
Inside the court yard.
We went to the shop to get our tickets and headed into the Castle. There was a wedding so part of it was closed off unfortunately. But we got to just wander around by ourselves. We went up one of the towers and it was up a series of very steep spiral staircases.
In front of an exhibit at the top room of the tower.
Another exhibit at the top of the tower.
Calvin was interested to learn that the children here were home schooled. Their teacher lived off the library in her own room and every day the 14 children that last lived here had to learn lots of subjects like Latin and Greek.
After the tour we headed back to the gardens and there was a Woodland Secrets Play Area. Much fun was had here! There are all sorts of fun things for the kids to do.
Climbing on rocks in the stone circle.
Then there was the big Wigwam, which the kids decided we could camp out in if only they would let us!
I spy with my little eye, two monkies!
Inside the wigwam.
Maia reading the map to tell us where to go next.
Inside a wooden hut.
Climbing and playing!
I was amazed that she managed to get up here by herself!
A cool tunnel provided much entertainment.
Calvin really wanted to know why this was here. He thought it was very cool but just wanted to know why it was in the middle of the play area!
Inside what will be a tree playhouse I think, all the trees have been planted to grow into a dome shape, but they're young so not much coverage yet.
The magical blue tree!
We never did figure out what exactly this was for!
And last but definitely not least, their favourite thing in the garden!
I expect our membership is going to be money very well spent.
One of my absolute favourite things about home educating is when my children's knowledge surprises me. What I especially mean is those times when I realise they know something that I didn't teach them consciously. I notice this most with Maia since she's the youngest, but with the other two as well. Sometimes I just wonder how on earth they know it! It's only recently that they're starting to read, so it's not from books, and we don't have TV either, so who taught them these things?
Before I home educated, I really had no idea how much children absorb when they learn naturally. It should be obvious when you think about how much they learn before school age, but it's not something I paid a lot of attention to before. Sometimes they teach me new things!
Maia and I did word puzzles the other day.
She knew almost every letter. I couldn't quite believe it at first! She's not quite three yet and the others weren't recognising letters at this age. The thing is I know in the end this all balances out - her being an early reader may be a possibility, and although that's fab, it doesn't mean she's better or smarter than Cora who is just now grasping reading at 8 years old. All children learn in their own time, and the amazing thing to me is just how much daily life really does teach them. The more time goes on the more I believe in unschooling, not following a set curriculum, letting them follow their interests and learn as they go about life.
I've often wondered if Cora and Calvin would secretly like to go to school. I know they do feel they miss out in the sense of not seeing their friends every day. On April Fool's Day I told them they were going back to school. I thought they would laugh and know I was joking, but they both instantly burst into tears! I felt terrible, but on the bright side, my husband remarked that at least now we know for sure how they truly feel about it. And as for me?
I realise I have been quiet lately, I don't even know when I last posted. I've been playing with Instagram lately, here's a couple of my favourites. :-)
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